Homeopathic Remedies for Pleurisy

Pleurisy also known as pleuritis refers to inflammation of pleura (pleura: two layers of tissue that covers the lungs and lines the inner chest wall). These layers are named as the visceral pleura and parietal pleura. Normally, during breathing these two pleurae rub together but are lubricated in between by a very small quantity of fluid in the space between the two layers. But if this tissue is inflamed, swollen or gets infected then it causes pain every time the lungs expand and the pleura rub against each other. Homeopathic remedies for pleurisy offer a supportive role in managing the symptoms of this condition.

Homeopathic Remedies for Pleurisy

Homeopathic medicines can be taken along with conventional treatment to manage symptoms of pleurisy. They offer help to manage symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath and cough in these cases. The homeopathic medicines help in reducing the inflammation of pleura by targeting the root cause behind it. As this medical condition can have serious complications so one should avoid self medication. Use any of the homeopathic medicines only on a homeopathic physician’s recommendation after detailed analysis of the case.

Bryonia – Top Grade Medicine

Bryonia is prepared from the root of the plant Bryonia Alba commonly known as wild hops. This plant belongs to the family cucurbitaceae. It is a top listed medicine to manage cases of pleurisy. The main indicating symptom to use this medicine is stitching pain in the chest while coughing, breathing, deep inspiration or motion. It is better from rest. The person needing it can’t take a deep breath because of the pain that it causes. The pain from the chest may extend to the back. A prominent symptom that attends it is shortness of breath that gets worse from slightest motion. Next symptom that is present is a dry cough with stitching pain in the chest. During coughing the person holds the chest because it causes chest pain. Heated sensation is also felt in the chest. The persons who need it may also have pneumonia. In such cases blood streaked expectoration having brick colour, chest pain, high fever are present. Apart from above it is also indicated for pleuritic pain with tuberculosis.

Kali Carb – For Dry, Short Cough

It is a well indicated medicine when there is prominent short, dry cough in pleurisy. In the majority of cases, the cough is most troublesome at night time. It often wakes a person from sleep. On coughing, acute pain in the chest is felt. The pain is stitching type. This is usually felt on the left side of the chest. The pain from the chest can go towards the back. Taking a long breath also worsens the chest pain. Along with these there is complaint of difficult respiration.

Arsenic Album – For Managing Difficult Breathing

Arsenic Album is a leading medicine to manage complaints of difficulty in breathing. People needing it mostly have this symptom from slightest motion. Its use is often called in chronic cases of pleurisy with dark expectoration and excessive weakness. Other symptoms that are present include dry short and hacking cough and pain in the lower chest. On coughing, soreness in the chest or stitches on the side of chest is also felt. With this complaint of pneumonia can be present. Here dark, offensive sputa, great weakness and heat in the chest appears.

Aconite – For Stitching Pain in Chest on Breathing, Coughing

This medicine is prepared from plant Aconitum Napellus having the common name monkshood. It belongs to family ranunculaceae. This medicine is useful when stitching pain in the chest when breathing or coughing is present. Dry heat can be felt in the chest. Along with this constant dry cough can be present. Shortness of breath especially in sleep after midnight is another characteristic. Another unique feature for using it in pleurisy is inability to lie on the right side.

Hepar Sulph – For Chest Pain on Movement

This medicine is selected when chest pain is felt on every movement. The pain may extend from chest to shoulder blades. With this cough and shortness of breath also arises. The cough is deep, dry and with every cough pain in the chest is felt. Alternate heat and chills with shivering can attend these symptoms. Weight loss may also appear.

Phosphorus – For Supportive Help in Late Stages

This medicine is used for managing pleurisy cases in late stages. The symptoms that it can manage includes chest pain when coughing / on deep inspiration, soreness in the chest and burning sensation in chest. Sometimes pneumonia is present along with pleurisy in cases requiring it. In these cases shortness of breath; short, dry cough; rust coloured sputum and pain / tightness across the chest is present. In cases needing it there may be pus accumulation in pleural space (empyema.)

Ranunculus Bulbosus – For Chest Pain due to Adhesions

This medicine is prepared from a plant named Buttercup belonging to the family ranunculaceae. It works well in cases to manage chest pain where adhesions of layers of pleura have occurred after pleurisy. It is indicated to manage stitching pain in the chest with painful inspiration. It is also well indicated for pneumonia of the left side with pleurisy. In these cases great soreness in chest, stitching pain in left side chest, slight cough, loss of appetite and low body strength is present.

Sulphur – For Persistent Cough

This medicine is helpful when following pleurisy the cough remains for a long time. The cough is mild and always ends in little expectoration. It is also useful for cases with stitches in the right side of chest on taking a deep inspiration or coughing along with difficult respiration. Lastly Sulphur is well indicated when pleurisy occurs in case of articular rheumatism.

Argentum Nitricum – For Cough in Pleurisy

This medicine is valuable for cases where excessive cough is present in pleurisy cases. The cough is irritative that continues evening and night. Along with this pain and soreness especially on the left side of chest is there. Sometimes blood streaked sputum is expectorated. Tensive pain in the chest tends to arise with this.

Guaiacum – For Stitching Pain in Chest

This medicine is prepared from gum – resin of a large tree Guaiacum officinale also known as Lignum sanctum that belongs to family zygophyllaceae. This medicine is significant to manage cases of pleurisy with stitching pain in the chest that is felt from each inspiration. This pain is also felt between the shoulder blades. Sometimes there is expectoration of offensive pus with this. Other symptoms that can accompany it includes tight and dry cough, fever and shortness of breath. It is also indicated for pleurisy with stitching in the chest along with tuberculosis.

Squilla – For Pain in Sides of Chest

This medicine is prepared from fresh bulb of plant Squilla Maritima commonly known as sea onion. This plant belongs to family liliaceae. It is best suited for cases of pleurisy with pain in the sides of the chest. This is usually felt on inhaling and coughing. Its worsening can also be seen in the morning. With this shortness of breath appears. This is felt from every exertion.

Zizia – When Stitching in Chest Worsens from Cough

This medicine is prepared from the root of the plant named Zizia aurea having commonly named as Meadow Parsnip. It belongs to the family umbelliferae. It is beneficial when stitching pain in the chest worsens from coughing. This can be attended with feverish symptoms. It also helps when there is sharp pain in the side of chest to both shoulder blades. Hard, dry and short cough can occur with this.

Kali Iodatum – For Supportive Help with Pleural Effusion

Kali Iodatum is mainly considered to offer supportive help in cases of pleurisy accompanied with pleural effusion. The symptoms indicating its use include stitching pain in chest, great weakness, loss of appetite. The pain is worse while walking where it is required. The chest feels sore with this, and the left side is more affected for use of this remedy.

Causes

Pleurisy can arise from various reasons. The main reason behind it are viral infections (like coxackie B virus, influenza, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus) that travel down the lungs. Other reasons include bacterial infection of lungs like pneumonia, fungal infection, tuberculosis, bronchitis. It can also arise in some autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis ( inflammatory disorder of autoimmune origin in which the joints are inflamed leading to pain, stiffness and swelling of joint), trauma to chest wall, rib fracture, tumours / cancer of lung in the pleural space. Apart from these it can arise from pulmonary embolism (blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries mostly from a blood clot) and sickle cell anaemia. Sometimes the cause behind it remains unknown.

Symptoms

The main symptom of pleurisy is chest pain. It is usually a sharp, stabbing type of pain. This pain is worse while breathing. The pain can also get worse from coughing, sneezing or movement of the upper body. The pain can remain confined to one place of chest or sometimes it may radiate to shoulders or back. Next symptom is shortness of breath. Other than this cough, fever, chills, shallow breathing, loss of appetite, weight loss may appear depending on the cause behind pleurisy.

Complications

Pleural effusion or build up of fluid in the pleural space that lies between the two layers of the pleurae), empyema or collection of pus in the pleural space, and atelectasis, which is partial or complete collapse of the lung are some complications of pleurisy.

Legal Disclaimer -None of the medicines mentioned including services , mentioned at Drhomeo.com should be used without clearance from your physician or health care provider. We do not claim to cure any disease which is considered' incurable ' on the basis of scientific facts by modern medicine .The website’s content is not a substitute for direct, personal, professional medical care and diagnosis. .

Legal Disclaimer -None of the medicines mentioned including services , mentioned at Drhomeo.com should be used without clearance from your physician or health care provider. We do not claim to cure any disease which is considered' incurable ' on the basis of scientific facts by modern medicine .The website’s content is not a substitute for direct, personal, professional medical care and diagnosis. .